A Story of the Walk & History of St. Patrick
- Faith Fire
- Sep 4, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 6, 2023
Today we wanted to discuss the History of St Patrick. There is much legend and myth about the time St Patrick was on the earth. Patrick’s legacy, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and impact it had on Ireland and Western Europe cannot be understated. God’s timing was impeccable, as it occurred at the demise and fall of the Roman Empire.
The decline and eventual fall of the Roman Empire in Britain and elsewhere (from 410 to 476AD approximately) heralded a vast power vacuum over Western Europe. Pax Romana: (the peace and predictability of Roman might and culture), was vanishing. The Roman army was withdrawn from Britain to fight elsewhere.
Ireland was never invaded by the Romans and remained Celtic and pagan. Invading parties and marauders from Celtic Ireland took many young men, women and children as slaves from Britain. The dark ages had begun.
From Rome, a bishop named Palladias, was reportedly sent to Ireland which coincided with Patrick, though this is another story.
It was around 386AD that Patrick was born (his original name was possibly – Maewyn Succat). He was the son of Calpurnius and Conchessa. His father was Roman citizen, possibly a tax collector, a deacon and a landowner. Patrick was not Irish; he was born in Britain. Some scholars consider his birthplace to be somewhere in Strathclyde (Scotland), some say in Wales, and others postulate it was in England. His birth town is mentioned in Patrick’s writings, (Bannavem Taburniae); however, it’s location remains unconfirmed. Some scholars state that Banwen in Wales (Northeast of Swansea) is Patrick’s birthplace.
When it comes to the History of St Patrick not much is known of Patrick’s early life. It was when the Celtic invaders took him captive at the age of 16 years, that Patrick endured 6 years of slavery and hardship in Ireland. Exactly where Patrick was held in slavery is open to debate. It is said he tended sheep near the wood of Voclut; which was by the Western Sea. During this time Patrick was very lonely and isolated. He turned to the God that he had ignored and forgot from his youth. With his isolation in Ireland, Patrick says he prayed without ceasing to Jesus Christ, day, and night. Some think he was held at Slemish Mountain in County Antrim; others say it was from County Mayo from where Patrick later fled to the coast.
Then came the walk to freedom.
After years of Patrick herding sheep in Ireland; he grew closer to Jesus Christ, and, God answered his prayers. In a dream on the 6th year of his captivity, an angel of the Lord came and said that he would soon be leaving Ireland, and a ship would be ready. It is said, Patrick walked around 200 miles, possibly to Dublin, or maybe Wexford. At the port, initially the boat captain refused to take Patrick, so he prayed to God, and they changed their mind and let him aboard. Psalms Ch 37 V 23 states: “for the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord”. (NKJV). Some texts differ in whether Patrick returned to Britain, this is written in Patrick’s confession.
His confession states, following landfall, for 28 days they wandered in the wilderness, and the food ran out; they began to starve. The boat crew turned for the God of Patrick to help them as they hungered greatly. Patrick said to them in his confession (Paragraph - 19) “turn in faith with all your heart to the Lord my God, because nothing is impossible for him”.
Then a heard of pigs appeared in front of them, they killed many and had enough food, for them and for their dogs. He states: “after this they gave the greatest of thanks to God, and I was honoured in their eyes”. In Psalms Ch 146 V7 it states that it is God, “Who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free.” (NASB)
A few years back in Britain, while with his parents, Patrick had a vision in the night. This came in the form of a man named Victorius, coming from Ireland. He had a countless number of letters with him. Patrick read one of the letters “the voice of the Irish people” his thoughts were of hearing the voices of the Irish in one voice. The cries were of those near the wood of Voclut. They said, “we beg you holy boy, to come back and walk again among us”. It is known that God speaks to us in dreams as is mentioned E.g., In the book of Genesis, with Jacob (Israel), Solomon, and unbelieving kings like Abimelech Pharoah, and Nebuchadnezzar etc. In the latter two, God had Joseph and Daniel interpret the dreams. (Dear reader, be aware, the enemy of souls can also give dark and ominous dreams. These can be condemning, dark, without vibrant colour and are to deceive, confuse and lead you astray).
It is known that Patrick travelled to Gaul (France) and studied for 15 years; he was then ordained a priest. Later he became a bishop and was named Patricius - (Patrick). He sailed for Ireland, and first and landed near the mouth of the river Vartry (County Wicklow, south of Dublin). It is unknown, however why Patrick did not remain there. He sailed north along the coast and was driven by the strong tide into Strangford Lough (formerly known as Lough Cuan). He landed at the river Slaney close to Saul, in County Down (the Province of Ulster). This is believed to have been in 432AD.
Patrick’s ministry in Ireland begins.
Patrick was originally opposed by his elders in coming to Ireland, as a secret sin confided to a friend 30 years previously, was exposed. He returned to Ireland anyway buoyed by the Grace of God in Jesus Christ, that covers a multitude of sins. (Patrick writes of the pain and hurt this caused in his confession). Patrick arrived in the largely pagan Celtic Ireland. He answered God’s call in the vision to walk amongst the Irish again. When his boat landed, they tried to remain hidden, though a swine herder alerted the local chieftain. Patrick and his helpers had tried to remain concealed though the chieftain came with his sword and set his dog on them. It is part of the story that Patrick prayed and pacified the dog, to the chieftain’s amazement. Thus, Dichu the chieftain, impressed by the appearance of Patrick, went from angry to mellow. Dichu listened to the Gospel being preached and became the first person Patrick converted to Jesus Christ in Ireland. In an act of thanks, Dichu gave Patrick a barn, which became the most noted ecclesiastical site in Ireland. The Bible states in the Gospel of John Ch 8 V 32 “and you shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free”. (NASB)
St Patrick’s Memorial Church in Saul stands on the grounds of the original barn given to Patrick by the chieftain. Dichu believed Patrick’s preaching of Jesus Christ, and was baptized. This is the site of the first church built by Patrick on the Island of Ireland. Thus, a humble barn may be the inaugural Church of Irish Christianity.
Later, on these grounds the ‘Abbey of St Patrick’ was built. This was burned down by the Danes between the 9th and 10th Century. It was re-established in the 12th Century by Malachy the Bishop of Down. It was destroyed again in 1316 by Edward the Bruce. (Edward the Bruce later died himself in 1318, at the battle of Fraughart – County Louth).
From a humble barn Church building, it is said Ireland became the light of Europe through the dark ages. Patrick with his teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ upset many of the local druids, he was imprisoned on many occasions only to escape. It is thought that Patrick’s driving the snakes from Ireland, is an analogy of the pagan Celtic beliefs being pushed out. Patrick’s teaching, was of one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It may have been the fusion of the Celt’s venerating the sun, and, the Christian Cross that melted into the Celtic Cross, that is so identifiable today.
One thing we know for certain in the History of St Patrick, is that he travelled extensively across Ireland and established churches, schools, and monasteries. His teachings touched from the lowest to the greatest in the land, and he baptised thousands. His bravery in challenging pagan beliefs, and making Ireland a source of God’s light, in an ever-darkening Europe is understood. Patrick’s challenging of the Irish slavery raids, orchestrated by the British King Coroticus’s soldiers is illuminating’; that however is another story. In this respect, Patrick was around 1400 years ahead of state abolition of slavery (I.e., William Wilberforce, Abraham Lincoln, and others).
The legacy of Patrick
Firstly, Patrick answered the call of God and returned to Ireland. His ministry on the Island lasted approximately 30 years. Christianity changed the Island of Ireland. Patrick retired in his last days to Saul County Down, and he is buried in the grounds of Down Cathedral in Downpatrick. In Patrick’s confession (Paragraph – 38) states: “I am greatly in debt to God. He gave me such great grace, that through me, many people should be born again in God and brought to full life”. Jesus did not come to bring religion; he came to restore the relationship lost through Adam’s fall.
The Biblical Gospel of John it speaks of when Jesus Christ is teaching Nicodemus, (a teacher; a ruler in the Sanhedrin – the Jewish supreme council). Nicodemus came at night for fear of being seen with Jesus. Listen to Jesus’s own words to Nicodemus in John Ch3 V 3: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (NASB). In response to Nicodemus’s query of how one can be born again when they are old, Jesus states John Ch3 V5: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (NASB). The apostle Paul confirms in Ephesians Ch 2 V 8 – 9 “For by grace - (the unmerited favour of God) you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” “not as a result of works, so that no one may boast”. (NASB)
Thank you for reading. What is your response to Jesus Christ calling you?
References:
A letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus: From Celtic literature collective.
Encyclopaedia Britannica (online) Available at:
History.Com editors. (2023) Who was St Patrick. Available at:
Klein C (2019) History.com. St Patrick: Kidnapped by pirates and enslaved at 16. Available at:
NASB (New American Standard Bible). Available from Zondervan, other printers and via online apps.
NKJV (New King James Bible). Available by Thomas Nelson, other printers and via online apps.
Saint Patrick’s Confessio (confession). Available at:
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A Story of the Walk & History of St. Patrick | Faithfire CMI (Christian Ministries Ireland) 2023
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